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The closure of the main emergency gate at the valley’s lone pediatric hospital in Sonwar has come under severe criticism with the attendants, alleging it to be a reason for immense

hardships. According to a local news agency, Kashmir News Observer (KNO), parents, whose kids are admitted at the G B Panth cantonment hospital said that the hospital administration has kept

the main emergency gate closed for the patients as well as for the attendants and are allowing the entry from the gate, which is nearly 300 meters away from the main casualty gate. “The

administration has turned deaf ear towards the complaints of attendants. After the closure of the main emergency gate, their patients with emergencies are forced to suffer,” the attendants

said. “Being a lone pediatric hospital in the valley, the hospital receives emergency patients in complicated situations. So, it stands the responsibility of administration to give ease to

the night hours and not to make the situation worse by letting them run 300 meters around the hospital to enter the hospital through an alternate gate,” the attendants said. They said that

it is unfortunate that no steps have been taken to open the gate yet again for the people despite approaching the concerned authorities several times. The attendants later appealed to the

Lieutenant Governor to directly intervene unto the matter so that the patients with emergency will not be forced to face hardships and can get the treatment at the right time. Meanwhile,

Medical Superintendent of G B Pant Children Hospital, Dr. Kanwarjeet Singh told KNO that the decision to close down the main gate is taken for the well- being of patients. “Amid winter

season, the main gate that usually remained open throughout the day and night was leading to the heat loss, thus affecting the health of patients at the ward as well,” he said, adding that

this decision has only been taken to prevent the heating loss and would remain closed till winter season is over. However, he also said that during rains or snow, the main gate will remain

open for the patients to ensure that they will not suffer. (KNO)